Senior Dental Services: Professional Care Delivered To Your Living Room
Dental care for seniors through 2024 will focus on accessibility, convenience, and specialized services. We also look for solutions for seniors with limited mobility.
Dental care for seniors through 2024 will focus on accessibility, convenience, and specialized services. We also look for solutions for seniors with limited mobility.
The Rise of the Home Visit Dentist
For many older patients, limited mobility and transportation challenges to the dental office are significant barriers. Home-visit dentists have become a cornerstone of dental care for seniors, providing services directly in the patient's home. These dentists carry portable dental equipment from routine checkups to more complex procedures, such as fillings and extractions, in the comfort of the patient's home.
Cost of a Dentist Visit in the United States
· Initial Consultation: Typically, a first visit to a mobile dentist may cost a consultation fee of around $100 to $300. This fee sometimes includes a basic exam or verbal evaluation.
· Routine Procedures: Prices range from $200 to $600 for standard procedures like teeth cleanings, x-rays, or simple fillings. The cost may be higher if more extensive care is required during the visit.
· Advanced Treatments: More complex procedures, such as extractions, crowns, or root canals, are generally more expensive. For example, extraction costs can range from $150 to $650 or more, depending on complexity. Crowns and root canals start at about $800 and can cost up to $2,000 or more per tooth, depending on the materials used and the difficulty of the procedure.
· Emergency Visits: Emergency dental services may include emergency pain relief or infection treatment, which can also vary but tend to be higher due to the immediacy of treatment.
Mobile Dental Clinics: Bringing Services Closer to Seniors
Northeast
1. Senior Home Call Dentistry (New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA)
1. Specializes in care for homebound, bedridden, and dementia patients.
2. Provides comprehensive home care, including cleanings, extractions, and denture care.
3. Prices vary based on services and patient needs.
Midwest
2. Apple Tree Dental (Minnesota - Coon Rapids, Fergus Falls, Rochester)
1. Provides on-site care for seniors in nursing facilities and adults with disabilities in community homes.
2. Services include exams, cleanings, fillings, and extractions.
3. Fees vary based on the type of service and insurance coverage.
South
3. Dental Health Management Solutions (Central Texas)
1. Focus on senior communities and nursing homes.
2. Services include diagnostics, preventive cleanings, and restorative treatments.
3. Ask for detailed pricing.
4. 4. Golden Age Dental Care (Southern California)
1. Provides comprehensive dental care, including scheduled exams, maintenance care, and emergency services.
2. We are known for quality denture care and restorative dentistry.
3. Pricing information is available upon request.
West
5. Smile Delivery (Phoenix, Arizona metro area)
1. Senior-focused home dental care, providing a full range of dental services.
2. Includes preventive and restorative care with an emphasis on comfort.
3. Ask for detailed pricing.
Southeast
6. Mobile Dental Sarasota & Manatee County (Florida)
1. Specializes in geriatric dentistry, providing services from dental cleanings to more complex procedures.
2. Prices vary based on the services required.
Pacific Northwest
7. Mobile Dental Seattle (Seattle, Washington)
1. Provides a full range of dental services to senior patients directly in their homes or nursing facilities.
2. Prices vary and will be communicated after the initial consultation.
Southwest
8. Phoenix Mobile Dental (Phoenix, AZ)
1. Provides on-site dental care, including preventive care and emergency dental care.
2. Cost details are available when contacting the provider.
Mountain Country
9. Rocky Mountain Mobile Dental (Denver, CO)
1. Provides mobile dental services to seniors in residential and assisted living facilities.
2. Includes general dental and emergency care, and prices vary based on the services provided.
Mid-Atlantic
10. Mobile Dentist Metro (Washington, DC, MD, VA)
1. Specializes in providing seniors with convenient dental care in their own homes.
2. Services range from primary care to speciality care for older patients.
3. Prices are determined individually based on treatment plans.
Seniors: How to Get Affordable Dental Care
1. Medicare and Medicaid: While standard Medicare coverage does not typically include dental care, some Medicare Advantage plans do offer dental benefits. Medicaid coverage for dental services varies by state; some states provide more comprehensive coverage than others. Seniors should check the details of their state's Medicaid program to determine which dental services are covered.
2. Dental Lifeline Network: This organization operates the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program, which provides free, comprehensive dental care to seniors, individuals with disabilities, or individuals in poor health who cannot afford necessary treatment and are not on public assistance. The program is available in every state. Eligibility criteria include being over 65 years of age, having a permanent disability, or having a medical condition that requires dental care.
3. Program of Comprehensive Care for the Elderly (PACE): PACE is a Medicare/Medicaid program that provides comprehensive medical and social services, including dental care, to seniors who qualify based on income level. The program is designed specifically for seniors with significant care needs, often including those homebound or with limited mobility.
4. Community Health Centers: These centres are funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and provide free or low-cost health services, including dental care. They are located throughout the country and target low-income populations, including seniors.
5. Dental Schools and Clinical Research: Many dental schools offer low-cost services to the public so that students can gain supervised experience. In addition, some clinical trials conducted by research institutions provide specific dental treatments for free or at a discounted price as part of their research.
6. Local nonprofit and charitable programs: Various local organizations and charities specialize in providing free or low-cost dental care for seniors. This may include services such as cleanings, fillings, and even more complex dental work. It's worth contacting local senior centres, nonprofits, or religious organizations to learn about services available in your area.